# Linda Dano
**Linda Dano** (born Linda Rae Wildermuth; 1943) is an American actress and television host best known for playing romance novelist Felicia Gallant on the NBC soap opera *[Another World](https://www.edgepedia.org/another-world-tv-series)* from 1983 to 1999, a role that won her the 1993 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/bio/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/awards/) • [3](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/linda-dano/umc.cpc.4t4i41c53yzjdqlvdx88mhyei) She later carried the character Rae Cummings across every ABC Daytime soap in a single crossover storyline, and she has worked in parallel as a talk-show host, fashion entrepreneur, and author.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1943; birth name Linda Rae Wildermuth[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/bio/) |
| Signature role | Felicia Gallant on *Another World* (NBC), 1983–1999, about 1,696 episodes[3](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/linda-dano/umc.cpc.4t4i41c53yzjdqlvdx88mhyei) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/) |
| Emmy | Won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, 1993, for Felicia's alcoholism storyline; IMDb lists 1 win and 10 nominations overall[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/awards/) • [6](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/catching-up-with-beloved-daytime-emmy-winner-linda-dano/) |
| Crossover role | Rae Cummings on *One Life to Live* (1978–1980 and 1999–2004), also appearing as Rae on *All My Children*, *Port Charles*, and *General Hospital*[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943) |
| Talk show | Co-host of *Attitudes* on Lifetime, 1986–1991[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943) |
| Business | Clothing and home-furnishings line with QVC, first partnering with the channel in 1993 and continuing for over 20 years[3](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/linda-dano/umc.cpc.4t4i41c53yzjdqlvdx88mhyei) |
| Recent work | Vivian Alamain on *Days of Our Lives* (2021, 11 episodes); Alice Hamlin in the Hallmark film *A Little Daytime Drama* (2021); the podcast *IN with Linda Dano*[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/) • [7](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/a-little-daytime-drama/cast/linda-dano) • [6](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/catching-up-with-beloved-daytime-emmy-winner-linda-dano/) |
## Early life and start in acting
Dano was born Linda Rae Wildermuth in 1943. IMDb gives her birthplace as Los Angeles, California, while [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) and Soap Opera Digest list [Long Beach, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/long-beach-california).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/bio/) • [8](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/linda-dano/3030416975/) • [6](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/catching-up-with-beloved-daytime-emmy-winner-linda-dano/) She earned a B.A. in design from [California State University, Long Beach](https://www.edgepedia.org/california-state-university-long-beach) in 1965, and her first career goal was fashion design rather than acting.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943) • [9](https://www.digitaljournal.com/article/linda-dano-reflects-on-another-world-and-talks-about-her-new-podcast/)
Her screen career began in the late 1960s with small, mostly uncredited film parts in *Tony Rome* (1967), *Hello, Dolly!* (1968), *The Boston Strangler* (1968), and *Star!* (1968).[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943) In the early 1970s she signed a contract with 20th Century Fox, appearing alongside actors such as [Tom Selleck](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-selleck), and worked steadily in primetime television with guest roles on series including *The Rockford Files*, *Starsky and Hutch*, *Charlie's Angels*, *Barney Miller*, and *CHiPs*.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943) • [10](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/linda-dano.html) She had a regular role as Angelina Montefusco Cooney on the NBC sitcom *The Montefuscos* in 1975.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943)
## Soap opera career
**First soap role.** Dano entered daytime in 1978 as Gretel (Rae) Cummings on ABC's *One Life to Live*, playing the role from 1978 to 1980.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943) Between soap stints she played Cynthia Haynes on CBS's *As the World Turns* from 1981 to 1982.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943)
**Felicia Gallant.** In 1983 Dano joined NBC's *Another World* as Felicia Gallant, a flamboyant romance novelist, and played the role until the show's cancellation in 1999.[3](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/linda-dano/umc.cpc.4t4i41c53yzjdqlvdx88mhyei) • [6](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/catching-up-with-beloved-daytime-emmy-winner-linda-dano/) The character's struggle with alcoholism became the storyline Dano submitted for Emmy consideration, and it drew a large response from viewers dealing with alcohol problems themselves.[6](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/catching-up-with-beloved-daytime-emmy-winner-linda-dano/) She won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1993, with earlier and later nominations in 1992, 1994, and 1996, and she received a further nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress for *One Life to Live* in 2003.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/awards/) • [4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943) IMDb counts her total record on the show as 1 win and 10 nominations, though other sources give different nomination totals; Apple TV, for example, describes seven nominations with one win.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/awards/) • [3](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/linda-dano/umc.cpc.4t4i41c53yzjdqlvdx88mhyei)
When *Another World* ended in 1999, Dano returned to *One Life to Live*, staying until 2004.[3](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/linda-dano/umc.cpc.4t4i41c53yzjdqlvdx88mhyei) In this second run she reprised Rae Cummings in a crossover story that took the character through the entire ABC Daytime lineup: *All My Children* (1999–2000), *Port Charles* (2000), and *General Hospital* (2000–2003), in addition to *One Life to Live*.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943) • [11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg8ezh8BgrA) In the story, Rae searched across the shows for her daughter, who turned out to be Skye Chandler.[11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg8ezh8BgrA)
**Later soap work.** Dano played Lena Kendall on *Guiding Light* in 2005, and in 2021 she returned to daytime on *Days of Our Lives*, filling in for [Louise Sorel](https://www.edgepedia.org/louise-sorel) as Vivian Alamain for a short run of 11 episodes.[6](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/catching-up-with-beloved-daytime-emmy-winner-linda-dano/) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/) She described the part as a two-week favor for a friend rather than a takeover of the character.[12](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/linda-dano-on-days-visit/)
## Television hosting and the fashion business
From 1986 to 1991 Dano co-hosted the talk show *Attitudes* on the Lifetime cable network, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Talk Show Host.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943) • [3](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/linda-dano/umc.cpc.4t4i41c53yzjdqlvdx88mhyei) She also appeared as a guest hostess on *SoapTalk* and *The View* and on game shows including *Hollywood Squares*, *Win, Lose or Draw*, and *Super Password*.[6](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/catching-up-with-beloved-daytime-emmy-winner-linda-dano/)
Her design background carried into business. She owned and ran Strictly Personal, a fashion consulting firm where she served as president, chief executive officer, and fashion designer, and she wrote fashion columns informed by her soap opera experience.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943) • [10](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/linda-dano.html) Beginning in 1993 she sold a clothing and home-furnishings line on QVC, a partnership that lasted more than 20 years.[3](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/linda-dano/umc.cpc.4t4i41c53yzjdqlvdx88mhyei) She also wrote two style books with Anne Kyle, *Looking Great* (1997) and *Living Great* (1998), both published by Putnam, and in 1984 co-wrote the [Harlequin](https://www.edgepedia.org/harlequin) novel *Dreamweaver* with Rebecca Flanders under Felicia Gallant's name.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943)
## Personal life
Dano was married three times: to Larry Larue Peck (1963–1967), Salvatore Jack Giordano (1968–1974), and advertising executive Frank Attardi.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/bio/) Sources disagree on the year she married Attardi: IMDb lists December 18, 1981, while Encyclopedia.com gives December 27, 1977, noting that some sources cite 1982.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/bio/) • [4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943) Attardi died of lung cancer in 2004, ending a marriage Dano has described as 23 years long; the couple had appeared together on the PBS series *VIP* in 1994, on *Attitudes*, and on *Another World*, where he played agent Beau Wexler in 1992.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/bio/) • [6](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/catching-up-with-beloved-daytime-emmy-winner-linda-dano/) She has not remarried.[6](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/catching-up-with-beloved-daytime-emmy-winner-linda-dano/)
## Recent activity
Dano's most recent screen credit is the 2021 [Hallmark Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/hallmark-channel) film *A Little Daytime Drama*, in which she played Alice Hamlin, the creator of a long-running daytime series, opposite [Ryan Paevey](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryan-paevey) and [Jen Lilley](https://www.edgepedia.org/jen-lilley).[7](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/a-little-daytime-drama/cast/linda-dano) • [13](https://parade.com/news/rarely-seen-soap-star-linda-dano-82-looks-glowing-in-appearance-with-90s-talk-show-host-rosie-o-donnell) She hosts the podcast *IN with Linda Dano*, available on Amazon's Audible and Spotify, which features interviews with people from daytime television, fashion, and the arts.[6](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/catching-up-with-beloved-daytime-emmy-winner-linda-dano/) • [14](https://open.spotify.com/show/4ardkZJZkWZN9b8w0s5Esz) The *Another World* cast has remained close since the show's cancellation; Dano hosts a yearly reunion party at her home in Connecticut.[6](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/catching-up-with-beloved-daytime-emmy-winner-linda-dano/)
## References
1. [Linda Dano – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/bio/)
2. [Linda Dano – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/awards/)
3. [Linda Dano – Movies and Shows, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/linda-dano/umc.cpc.4t4i41c53yzjdqlvdx88mhyei)
4. [Dano, Linda 1943–, Encyclopedia.com (Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television)](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/dano-linda-1943)
5. [Linda Dano, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200451/)
6. [Catching Up With Beloved Daytime Emmy Winner Linda Dano, Soap Opera Digest](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/catching-up-with-beloved-daytime-emmy-winner-linda-dano/)
7. [Linda Dano as Alice on A Little Daytime Drama, Hallmark Channel](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/a-little-daytime-drama/cast/linda-dano)
8. [Linda Dano – TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/linda-dano/3030416975/)
9. [Linda Dano reflects on 'Another World,' and talks about her new podcast, Digital Journal](https://www.digitaljournal.com/article/linda-dano-reflects-on-another-world-and-talks-about-her-new-podcast/)
10. [Linda Dano – Age, Bio, Family, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/linda-dano.html)
11. [Linda Dano Interview – Days of our Lives, Another World, One Life to Live, Michael Fairman Channel (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg8ezh8BgrA)
12. [Linda Dano On DAYS Visit, Soap Opera Digest](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/linda-dano-on-days-visit/)
13. [Rarely Seen Soap Star, 82, Looks 'Glowing' With '90s Talk Show Host, Parade](https://parade.com/news/rarely-seen-soap-star-linda-dano-82-looks-glowing-in-appearance-with-90s-talk-show-host-rosie-o-donnell)
14. [IN with LINDA DANO, Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/4ardkZJZkWZN9b8w0s5Esz)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames D to Di*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license